Veterans lodging claims under either the DRCA or the MRCA for a mental health condition can be considered for the veteran payment (VP).  There are a number of other eligibility conditions for the VP, including:

• the requirement to meet the Income and Assets test, and
• to be unable to work eight or more hours per week, and
• must also be a resident of Australia at the time of submitting the liability claim.

Details of these requirements are located for internal DVA use at https://dvashare.dvastaff.dva.gov.au/BusinessUnits/Support/DSR/RC/MRCGTools/Pages/Veteran-Payment-(VP).aspx (The CLIK reference will be updated when available).

Applicants will be asked to complete a D9333 Veteran Payment details form which collects necessary information regarding income, assets, partner and tax file numbers.

Once approved, payment of VP has a start date two weeks prior to lodgement of the claim, and payment can continue for up to six weeks after a determination on liability for the relevant condition, or if a number of mental health claims have been lodged, the date the last mental health claim has been determined.

Partners of veterans may also be eligible to receive a VP, however only the primary person, as described in the Veterans’ Entitlements (Veteran Payment) Instrument 2018 No. R40 is eligible for a rehabilitation program. If the partner in receipt of VP is also a veteran who has lodged a claim for a mental health condition, then they will be assessed for participation in their own rehabilitation plan.